Friday, January 11
Cedar Falls, Iowa
7 p.m.
University of Northern Iowa
9-6 (2-1)
71
vs
52
Valparaiso University
4-10 (0-2)
1
2
3
4
F
VALPO
23
9
4
16
52
UNI
20
14
21
16
71
UNI Rides Third Quarter Run to Win Over Valpo
1/11/2019 10:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The UNI women's basketball team used a 21-0 third-quarter run to pick up a 71-52 win over Valparaiso Friday evening to move to 6-0 at home and 2-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Three Panthers scored in double figures, led by Mikaela Morgan's 15 points while the Panther defense held the Crusaders to just 29 points in the final three quarters.
UNI shot 26-60 (43.3 percent) from the field and racked up 12 assists on 26 made shots and only turned the ball over 13 times.
The Crusaders were 17-45 (37.8 percent) from the field and notched 22 turnovers and were outrebounded by UNI 38-31.
The first quarter was a back and forth battle with Valparaiso hitting at an amazing clip of 61.5 percent (8-13). The Crusaders led 23-20 after one, but the UNI defense stepped up the pressure and held Valpo to just 13 points over the next two quarters.
The Crusaders hit the first shot of the second half, but the Panthers then went on a 21-0 run that saw six panthers score. UNI was 9-12 from the field in the stretch and 3-5 from the three-point line. They forced Valpo into nine turnovers and eight missed shots.
The Crusaders hit a pair of free throws to stop the bleeding, but the nearly nine-minute rally was enough to put the game away.
Morgan closed with 15 points, Karlie Rucker was 3-4 from the three-point line for 14 points and Kam Finley finished with 10, her second game in a row in double figures. Ellie Howell had a game-high eight rebounds to go with eight points and four assists.
UNI is now 9-6 overall and 2-1 in MVC play while Valpo drops to 4-10 and 0-2 in league.
PLAYER OF THE GAME…
Mikaela Morgan was stellar on defense, but equally impressive on the offensive end. She went 6-12 from the field and 3-7 form the three-point line. She also added four rebounds, an assist and a steal in 31 minutes on the court. She scored five of her 15 points in the 21-point third-quarter run, including a three-point to get the run going.
PLAY OF THE GAME…
Tied at 34 early in the third quarter, Morgan hit a three-pointer early in the shot clock to put UNI up 37-34. The bucket was the first three points of the 21-point run.
STAT OF THE GAME…
The Panthers put up 60 shots to just 45 for the Crusaders. This is a direct result of offensive rebounding and turnovers. UNI had 12 offensive boards to just six for Valpo and the also had nine fewer turnovers.
NOTES…
The Panthers continue the homestand against Loyola who dropped a close game against Drake 69-60 in Des Moines. The game is slated for Sunday at 11:30, the first of a doubleheader with the men facing Drake in the afternoon.
Three Panthers scored in double figures, led by Mikaela Morgan's 15 points while the Panther defense held the Crusaders to just 29 points in the final three quarters.
UNI shot 26-60 (43.3 percent) from the field and racked up 12 assists on 26 made shots and only turned the ball over 13 times.
The Crusaders were 17-45 (37.8 percent) from the field and notched 22 turnovers and were outrebounded by UNI 38-31.
The first quarter was a back and forth battle with Valparaiso hitting at an amazing clip of 61.5 percent (8-13). The Crusaders led 23-20 after one, but the UNI defense stepped up the pressure and held Valpo to just 13 points over the next two quarters.
The Crusaders hit the first shot of the second half, but the Panthers then went on a 21-0 run that saw six panthers score. UNI was 9-12 from the field in the stretch and 3-5 from the three-point line. They forced Valpo into nine turnovers and eight missed shots.
The Crusaders hit a pair of free throws to stop the bleeding, but the nearly nine-minute rally was enough to put the game away.
Morgan closed with 15 points, Karlie Rucker was 3-4 from the three-point line for 14 points and Kam Finley finished with 10, her second game in a row in double figures. Ellie Howell had a game-high eight rebounds to go with eight points and four assists.
UNI is now 9-6 overall and 2-1 in MVC play while Valpo drops to 4-10 and 0-2 in league.
PLAYER OF THE GAME…
Mikaela Morgan was stellar on defense, but equally impressive on the offensive end. She went 6-12 from the field and 3-7 form the three-point line. She also added four rebounds, an assist and a steal in 31 minutes on the court. She scored five of her 15 points in the 21-point third-quarter run, including a three-point to get the run going.
PLAY OF THE GAME…
Tied at 34 early in the third quarter, Morgan hit a three-pointer early in the shot clock to put UNI up 37-34. The bucket was the first three points of the 21-point run.
STAT OF THE GAME…
The Panthers put up 60 shots to just 45 for the Crusaders. This is a direct result of offensive rebounding and turnovers. UNI had 12 offensive boards to just six for Valpo and the also had nine fewer turnovers.
NOTES…
- The Panthers are now in a two-way tie for third in the MVC standings at 2-1.
- UNI remains unbeaten at home and is now 6-0 in McLeod this season.
- Four Panthers; Mikaela Morgan (13.7), Karli Rucker (10.7), Ellie Howell (10.3) and Kam Finley (12.5) are averaging double figures in MVC play. Finley did not play in the conference opener.
- Heidi Hillyard was 4-4 on the game for eight points.
- Ellie Howell tied her career high with a pair of blocks.
- The Panthers also carried a large advantage of 32-17 in bench points.
The Panthers continue the homestand against Loyola who dropped a close game against Drake 69-60 in Des Moines. The game is slated for Sunday at 11:30, the first of a doubleheader with the men facing Drake in the afternoon.
Team Stats
VALPO
UNI
FG%
.378
.433
3FG%
.381
.348
FT%
.625
.733
RB
31
38
TO
22
13
STL
4
9
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
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